The scene is Discovery Island, just off the Oak Bay waterfront in Victoria, BC. Sarah, my youngest daughter, is 10 here. She can’t resist a climb on an ancient and dying arbutus tree. Its smooth, warm surface a real treat for any climbing connoisseur. The unique orange colour of the bark casts an intense reflected colour.

Sarah’s a real monkey. She has spent much of her lunch and recess time at school hanging from the monkey bars – her hands and knees tell the tale, with thick callouses and a constantly changing parade of purple bruises. Sarah and her posse play a game they’ve invented called “Grounders.” I’m a bit hazy as to the exact rules, but it seems akin to a game of tag, but the only ‘safe’ zone is up in the bars.

Sarah has just started Grade 6, in middle school. Her climbing days appear to be over, at least during school hours, as the new “big kid” school has no playground equipment of any kind... no swings, no slides, no monkey bars! Just sports fields. I guess climbing isn’t cool enough for middle school. Too bad. It looks like fun to me. Mark Heine